Celebrate St. Patrick's Day Safely

St. Patrick’s Day is upon us and has become a popular night out to celebrate with friends and family. Unfortunately, due to the large number of drunk drivers, the night out has also become very dangerous.

Law enforcement will be beefed up throughout Orange County to help keep the roadways safe. Police, sheriff and CHP officers will have a “zero tolerance” response toward impaired drivers who fail to use a designated sober driver.

Last year during the St. Patrick’s Day period, there were three people killed and 96 seriously injured in traffic accidents across California involving at least one driver or motorcyclist with a BAC of .08 percent or higher, according to statistics compiled by the California Office of Traffic Safety.

“Whether you are meeting a few friends after work or attending a local event or party, if alcohol is part of the celebration, make sure you designate a sober driver to get you home safely, or contact your local cab company for a safe trip,” said Deputy Wayne Howard with the Orange County Sheriff’s Department’s Traffic Bureau.

Safety Tips:

• Plan a safe way home before the festivities begin and designate a sober driver.

• If you happen to see a drunk driver on the road, don’t hesitate to report them - Call 911!

• And remember, if you know people who are about to drive while impaired, take their keys and help them make other arrangements to get to where they are going safely.